Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-08

N1llI.1
"Thcm that goes down to the sea b.
ships has GURUS experiences, Tbad
deus" said Captain Flagg. laying down
his big trumpet with an impressive nod
Of The head.
With a vivid recollection of his own
experience Of the previous night, Tad
icpliod cmphatically that he had no
doubt Of It.
"When You como 10 bn sailor,
Thaddcus. aud, may be, a ship-mastcr,
like myself pursued the Captain,
feeling mechanically in his pockets for
his pipc-which he discovered, mo-
mcnt later TO be ON the deck, in pos
session VI Bounce, who was gravclv
dragging IL away 10 the immcasurablc
delight Of Polly-"an' you've gone
Through the responsibilities. an
dangers, an typhoons - an things
gently he rather hazily concluded,
as he recovered his pipe from Bounce.
''you'll realize that what Solomon says
about truth being strangcr'n fiction is
ics, about rs he's put it,"
"But I-l-don't think want to bo
a sailor" faltcrcd Tad, with downcast
eyes.
"What-not want to be salyer
bold, and plow the ragin' main," cx-
claimed the Captain with look Of un-
uttcrablc amazcmcnt.
"No, SIR" family replied Tad. And
rs he thJs spoke. he hung his head 50
far one side that the big fur cap fell
oil. and was Immediately seized by
Bounce, who began to worry it. cyi.
Gcntly regarding it as some new spc
cics Of the feline race, until. in the
fcrvor Of his attack. he fell into It bod.
lily. and gave vent to tnall yClps, ox.
pressivc Of extreme fear.
IL was some time before the Captain
recovered from the shock occasioned
by Tad's reply. That a likely boy
should prefer n prosaic existence
ashore, who had once tasted the pleas.
urablu excitement Of "a life on tn,
ocean wavc,' passed his simple COM.
prchcnsion. But gradually yielding to
Polly's artful arguments, Captain
Flagg's brow began to clear.
"All right, my lad" he said. quite
checrfully. 81 own I'm n bit struck
aback, but, seeing you don't take
rat'rally to sailurizin'. there's no press
gangs nowadays to force You into
goin' against your will. Only" re-
marked Captain Flagg, tilting back his
oil-skin hat, aud scratching his head
rcilectivcly, IL don't just know what
to do with you, now you've changed
your mind
81 know" suddenly exclaimed
Polly. clapping her hands.
"WcllP" asked her father, intcrroga-
lively.
"Wcll find him chance on farm
when we get to BiSport.' returned
Polly. confidently. You'd like farm.
Ing -wouldn't You. Tad?"
Tad nodded with growing enthusi.
asm. lie knew that farming had some
thing to do with new milk and frcsA
butter and driving horses Whatever
it was, It would be far preferable TO 20
ing to sea. And 50 it was pretty def.
nitcly settled that Tad should be q
farmer, provided hc be able. through
the Captains influence. TO find n situS
tion
When Tad came on deck at sunrise
the foiluwingmorning sleepily rubbing
his eyes, he rubbed them still harder.
and. moreover, gave his elbow a sly
pinch to make sure that he was fully
awake as he saw the strange transform
alton that had taken place in his sur
roundings of the previous night.
For lu! in place of the faI-reaching
sea, green fields, alternating with for
csts Of oak or pine. slopcd down on
either hand to the edge Of broad riv-
er as smooth and clear as glass on
whose upmoving tide the "Mary j."
was slowly drifting.
"Wh-y-y," exclaimed Tad. staring
about him in glad surprise. ''whctc is
this. anyway?'
This is down Fast Tad" laughed
Polly, enjoying his look Of perplexity.